Heartbeat

It's pretty late once again - but not too late for an excellent 80s song to wish everyone well for the night.  I was looking through a few tunes on the web and came across one that I had completely forgotten about.  I was finishing middle school and just starting my freshman year of high school the year this song came out.  "Heartbeat" by Seduction was released in 1989, so it just makes it in the decade as an official 80s song.  Obviously, there were many styles and genres within the 80s category.  This particular group is categorized as "dance," "pop," "freestyle," and probably some other terms.  I think it is really a crossover genre between dance, pop, and R&B.  Nevertheless, this particular "Heartbeat" song is a great representation of a trend we saw in the late 80s - dance music with a synthesized drum beat and usually a trio of female voices.  Yes, this is long before Destiny's Child, and we see the legacy carried through today.  In fact, we can see this type of vocal ensemble long before the 80s if you think about the Supremes.  Anyway, the 80s dance version of the female trio has a pretty simple recipe - three ladies (one of whom has an extraordinarily powerful, soulful voice), synthesizer, and drum machine.  Doesn't really matter what the lyrics are.  All you need are a couple of oohs and ahhs, and of course, "baaaaaa-beeeee."  Sometimes, we hear, "oooh boy," and so forth.  Perfect for the middle school crowd, but still fun after all these years.  For all the clubbers who enjoyed these tunes, it really doesn't matter what the lyrics are as long as the beat is happening.  I can't believe that after all these years, I really didn't know what the lyrics were.  For my fellow 80s fans who were dancing along to this tune, the chorus is "heartbeat, you make me feel so weak."  Listen carefully, and you will hear an additional line, "my heart beats for the one I love."  It's kind of an ostinato.  Also, make sure to watch this video all the way through.  I hope you enjoy the awesome bass feature at 4:30.